Staff

Judy Ness, MSW, LCSW

Biography:Judy Ness is a clinical social worker and licensed therapist with a special interest in understanding how thoughts and emotions affect an individual’s response to stress. Judy received her bachelor’s degree in social work in 1997 at Pacific Union College. After working for St. Helena Hospital in their mental health programs for two years, she completed her Master of Social Work degree in 2000 at the University of California, Sacramento. Her graduate study focused on mental health, counseling psychology, and psychiatric social work. During the following eight years working on an all-female unit at Napa State Hospital, Judy began searching for more effective approaches to treating emotional disturbances and impulse-control problems. This led her to seek training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) an approach that combines cognitive behavioral science with concepts of balance, mindfulness and acceptance. She then collaborated with a psychologist in developing a DBT program on their hospital unit. She has since received further DBT training, including workshops with Marsha Linehan, developer of the DBT process. She has also completed training in treating bipolar and other mood disorders, domestic violence, eating disorders, sexual abuse/trauma, and suicide prevention. Judy has lived in Angwin for 22 years with her husband Bryan Ness, a Professor of Biology at PUC. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.